Flats plan above city center shops gets go-ahead after sun rays

New flats may be built above a shop in West Bromwich following a dispute over whether the extension would prevent sunlight from entering a restaurant kitchen. Sandwell Council has approved a planning application to build two and three-storey extensions above Meat Master and Kamal Travel butchers in West Bromwich High Street for seven new flats.

The plans were redrawn following an objection from neighboring Sagar Restaurant Sweet Centre, on the corner of West Bromwich High Street and Thynne Street, who claimed the two and three storey extensions would block any light from entering the restaurant and the sweet shop’s kitchen . . The council sided with the restaurant, saying the plans needed to be redrawn to ensure the restaurant’s windows were not blocked before the application could be approved.

A report outlining the council’s decision said: “The original development as proposed would have completely blocked the light to an existing commercial kitchen window at No Thynne Street. 2. For this reason, the original proposal would have been unacceptable on the grounds that it would cause the loss of light from the existing kitchen window at Thynne Street. 2.

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However, the agent has now provided amended plans to ensure that this existing commercial kitchen window at Thynne Street no. 2 is not blocked and therefore there would be no significant loss of light to this existing kitchen window to justify refusal.” The application includes five one-bed apartments, two studios and rear balconies.

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A statement included in the application said: “The proposal would use the existing space in a sustainable manner and provide additional good quality affordable one bedroom accommodation whilst ensuring the design is consistent with the character of the host building and the wider surrounding area. There are no adverse effects on neighboring facilities or existing apartments.

“The site is in a highly sustainable location for public transport with excellent access to local amenities and there is sufficient off-site parking in the immediate area.” Sandwell Council has approved a redesigned plan for a series of extensions to the Sagar Restaurant Sweet Center in 2022 to make way for four new flats. This came after the council previously rejected a plan for five two-bed flats in 2021.